a laodicean-第75部分

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her；　and　they　went　downstairs　into　the　hotel　gardens。

The　clatter　of　the　big　breakfast　within　was　audible　from　this
spot；　and　the　noise　seemed　suddenly　to　inspirit　Paula；　who
proposed　to　enter。　　Her　aunt　assented。　　In　the　verandah　under
which　they　passed　was　a　rustic　hat…stand　in　the　form　of　a
tree；　upon　which　hats　and　other　body…gear　hung　like　bunches　of
fruit。　　Paula's　eye　fell　upon　a　felt　hat　to　which　a　small
block…book　was　attached　by　a　string。　　She　knew　that　hat　and
block…book　well；　and　turning　to　Mrs。　Goodman　said；　'After　all；
I　don't　want　the　breakfast　they　are　having：　　let　us　order　one
of　our　own　as　usual。　　And　we'll　have　it　here。'

She　led　on　to　where　some　little　tables　were　placed　under　the
tall　shrubs；　followed　by　her　aunt；　who　was　in　turn　followed　by
the　proprietress　of　the　hotel；　that　lady　having　discovered
from　the　French　maid　that　there　was　good　reason　for　paying
these　ladies　ample　personal　attention。

'Is　the　gentleman　to　whom　that　sketch…book　belongs　staying
here？'　Paula　carelessly　inquired；　as　she　indicated　the　object
on　the　hat…stand。

'Ah；　no！'　deplored　the　proprietress。　　'The　Hotel　was　full　when
Mr。　Somerset　came。　　He　stays　at　a　cottage　beyond　the　Rue
Anicet　Bourgeois：　　he　only　has　his　meals　here。'

Paula　had　taken　her　seat　under　the　fuchsia…trees　in　such　a
manner　that　she　could　observe　all　the　exits　from　the　salle　a
manger；　but　for　the　present　none　of　the　breakfasters　emerged；
the　only　moving　objects　on　the　scene　being　the　waitresses　who
ran　hither　and　thither　across　the　court；　the　cook's　assistants
with　baskets　of　long　bread；　and　the　laundresses　with　baskets
of　sun…bleached　linen。　　Further　back　towards　the　inn…yard；
stablemen　were　putting　in　the　horses　for　starting　the　flys　and
coaches　to　Les　Ifs；　the　nearest　railway…station。

'Suppose　the　Somersets　should　be　going　off　by　one　of　these
conveyances；'　said　Mrs。　Goodman　as　she　sipped　her　tea。

'Well；　aunt；　then　they　must；'　replied　the　younger　lady　with
composure。

Nevertheless　she　looked　with　some　misgiving　at　the　nearest
stableman　as　he　led　out　four　white　horses；　harnessed　them；　and
leisurely　brought　a　brush　with　which　he　began　blacking　their
yellow　hoofs。　　All　the　vehicles　were　ready　at　the　door　by　the
time　breakfast　was　over；　and　the　inmates　soon　turned　out；　some
to　mount　the　omnibuses　and　carriages；　some　to　ramble　on　the
adjacent　beach；　some　to　climb　the　verdant　slopes；　and　some　to
make　for　the　cliffs　that　shut　in　the　vale。　　The　fuchsia…trees
which　sheltered　Paula's　breakfast…table　from　the　blaze　of　the
sun；　also　screened　it　from　the　eyes　of　the　outpouring　company；
and　she　sat　on　with　her　aunt　in　perfect　comfort；　till　among
the　last　of　the　stream　came　Somerset　and　his　father。　　Paula
reddened　at　being　so　near　the　former　at　last。　　It　was　with
sensible　relief　that　she　observed　them　turn　towards　the　cliffs
and　not　to　the　carriages；　and　thus　signify　that　they　were　not
going　off　that　day。

Neither　of　the　two　saw　the　ladies；　and　when　the　latter　had
finished　their　tea　and　coffee　they　followed　to　the　shore；
where　they　sat　for　nearly　an　hour；　reading　and　watching　the
bathers。　At　length　footsteps　crunched　among　the　pebbles　in
their　vicinity；　and　looking　out　from　her　sunshade　Paula　saw
the　two　Somersets　close　at　hand。

The　elder　recognized　her；　and　the　younger；　observing　his
father's　action　of　courtesy；　turned　his　head。　　It　was　a
revelation　to　Paula；　for　she　was　shocked　to　see　that　he
appeared　worn　and　ill。　　The　expression　of　his　face　changed　at
sight　of　her；　increasing　its　shade　of　paleness；　but　he
immediately　withdrew　his　eyes　and　passed　by。

Somerset　was　as　much　surprised　at　encountering　her　thus　as　she
had　been　distressed　to　see　him。　　As　soon　as　they　were　out　of
hearing；　he　asked　his　father　quietly；　'What　strange　thing　is
this；　that　Lady　De　Stancy　should　be　here　and　her　husband　not
with　her？　　Did　she　bow　to　me；　or　to　you？'

'Lady　De　Stancythat　young　lady？'　asked　the　puzzled　painter。
He　proceeded　to　explain　all　he　knew；　that　she　was　a　young　lady
he　had　met　on　his　journey　at　two　or　three　different　times；
moreover；　that　if　she　were　his　son's　clientthe　woman　who　was
to　have　become　Lady　De　Stancyshe　was　Miss　Power　still；　for
he　had　seen　in　some　newspaper　two　days　before　leaving　England
that　the　wedding　had　been　postponed　on　account　of　her　illness。

Somerset　was　so　greatly　moved　that　he　could　hardly　speak
connectedly　to　his　father　as　they　paced　on　together。　　'But　she
is　not　ill；　as　far　as　I　can　see；'　he　said。　　'The　wedding
postponed？You　are　sure　the　word　was　postponed？Was　it
broken　off？'

'No；　it　was　postponed。　　I　meant　to　have　told　you　before；
knowing　you　would　be　interested　as　the　castle　architect；　but
it　slipped　my　memory　in　the　bustle　of　arriving。'

'I　am　not　the　castle　architect。'

'The　devil　you　are　notwhat　are　you　then？'

'Well；　I　am　not　that。'

Somerset　the　elder；　though　not　of　penetrating　nature；　began　to
see　that　here　lay　an　emotional　complication　of　some　sort；　and
reserved　further　inquiry　till　a　more　convenient　occasion。
They　had　reached　the　end　of　the　level　beach　where　the　cliff
began　to　rise；　and　as　this　impediment　naturally　stopped　their
walk　they　retraced　their　steps。　　On　again　nearing　the　spot
where　Paula　and　her　aunt　were　sitting；　the　painter　would　have
deviated　to　the　hotel；　but　as　his　son　persisted　in　going
straight　on；　in　due　course　they　were　opposite　the　ladies
again。　　By　this　time　Miss　Power；　who　had　appeared　anxious
during　their　absence；　regained　her　self…control。　　Going
towards　her　old　lover　she　said；　with　a　smile；　'I　have　been
looking　for　you！'

'Why　have　you　been　doing　that？'　said　Somerset；　in　a　voice
which　he　failed　to　keep　as　steady　as　he　could　wish。

'BecauseI　want　some　architect　to　continue　the　restoration。
Do　you　withdraw　your　resignation？'

Somerset　appeared　unable　to　decide　for　a　few　instants。　　'Yes；'
he　then　answered。

For　the　moment　they　had　ignored　the　presence　of　the　painter
and　Mrs。　Goodman；　but　Somerset　now　made　them　known　to　one
another；　and　there　was　friendly　intercourse　all　round。

'When　will　you　be　able　to　resume　operations　at　the　castle？'
she　asked；　as　soon　as　she　could　again　speak　directly　to
Somerset。

'As　soon　as　I　can　get　back。　　Of　course　I　only　resume　it　at
your　special　request。'

'Of　course。'　　To　one　who　had　known　all　the　circumstances　it
would　have　seemed　a　thousand　pities　that；　after　again　getting
face　to　face　with　him；　she　did　not　explain；　without　delay；　the
whole　mischief　that　had　separated　them。　　But　she　did　not　do
itperhaps　from　the　inherent　awkwardness　of　such　a　topic　at
this　idle　time。　　She　confined　herself　simply　to　the　above…
mentioned　business…like　request；　and　when　the　party　had　walked
a　few　steps　together　they　separated；　with　mutual　promises　to
meet　again。

'I　hope　you　have　explained　your　mistake　to　him；　and　how　it
arose；　and　everything？'　said　her　aunt　when　they　were　alone。

'No；　I　did　not。'

'What；　not　explain　after　all？'　said　her　amazed　relative。

'I　decided　to　put　it　off。'

'Then　I　think　you　decided　very　wrongly。　　Poor　young　man；　he
looked　so　ill！'

'Did　you；　too；　think　he　looked　ill？　　But　he　danced　last　night。
Why　did　he　dance？'　　She　turned　and　gazed　regretfully　at　the
corner　round　which　the　Somersets　had　disappeared。

'I　don't　know　why　he　danced；　but　if　I　had　known　you　were　going
to　be　so　silent；　I　would　have　explained　the　mistake　myself。'

'I　wish　you　had。　　But　no；　I　have　said　I　would；　and　I　must。'

Paula's　avoidance　of　tables　d'hote　did　not　extend　to　the
present　one。　　It　was　quite　with　alacrity　that　she　went　down；
and　with　her　entry　the　antecedent　hotel　beauty　who　had　reigned
for　the　last　five　days　at　that　meal；　was　unceremoniously
deposed　by　the　guests。　　Mr。　Somerset　the　elder　came　in；　but
nobody　with　him。　　His　seat　was　on　Paula's　left　hand；　Mrs。
Goodman　being　on　Paula's　right；　so　that　all　the　conversation
was　between　the　Academician　and　the　younger　lady。　　When　the
latter　had　again　retired　upstairs　with　her　aunt；　Mrs。　Goodman
expressed　regret　that　young　Mr。　Somerset　was　absent　from　the
table。　　'Why　has　he　kept　away？'　she　asked。

'I　don't　knowI　didn't　ask；'　said　Paula　sadly。　　'Perhaps　he
doesn't　care　to　meet　us　again。'

'That's　because　you　didn't　explain。'

'Wellwhy　didn't　the　old　man　give　me　an　opportunity？'
exclaimed　the　niece　with　suppressed　excitement。　　'He　would
scarcely　say　anything　but　yes　and　no；　and　gave　me　no　chance　at
all　of　introducing　the　subject。　　I　wanted　to　explainI　came
all　the　way　on　purposeI　would　have　begged　George's　pardon　on
my　two　knees　if　there　had　been　any　way　of　beginning；　but　there
was　not；　and　I　could　not　do　it！'

Though　she　slept　badly　that　night；　Paula　promptly　appeared　in
the　public　room　to　breakfast；　and　that　not　from　motives　of
vanity；　for；　while　not　unconscious　of　her　accession　to　the
unstable　throne　of　queen…beauty　in　the　establishment；　she
seemed　too　preoccupied　to　care　for　the　honour　just　then；　and
would　readily　have　changed　places　with　her　unhappy
predecessor；　who　lingered　on　in　the　background　like　a　candle
after　sunrise。

Mrs。　Goodman　was　determined　to　trust　no　longer　to　Paula　for
putting　an　end　to　what　made　her　so　restless　and　self…
reproachful。　　Seeing　old　Mr。　Somerset　enter　to　a　little　side…
table　behind　for　lack　of　room　at　the　crowded　centre　tables；
again　without　his　son；　she　turned　her　head　and　asked　point…
blank　where　the　young　man　was。

Mr。　Somerset's　face　became　a　shade　graver　than　before。　　'My
son　is　unwell；'　he　replied；　'so　unwell　that　he　has　been
advised　to　stay　indoors　and　take　perfect　rest。'

'I　do　hope　it　is　nothing　serious。'

'I　hope　so　too。　　The　fact　is；　he　has　overdone　himself　a
little。　　He　was　not　well　when　he　came　here；　and　to　make
himself　worse　he　must　needs　go　dancing　at　the　Casino　with　this
lady　and　thatamong　others　with　a　young　American　lady　who　is
here　with　her　family；　and　whom　he　met　in　London　last　year。　　I
advised　him　against　it；　but　he　seemed　desperately　determined
to　shake　off　lethargy　by　any　rash　means；　and　wouldn't　listen
to　me。　　Luckily　he　is　not　in　the　hotel；　but　in　a　quiet　cottage
a　hundred　yards　up　the　hill。'

Paula；　who　had　heard　all；　did　not　show　or　say　what　she　felt　at
the　news：　　but　after　breakfast；　on　meeting　the　l